Air-moistener attachment for fans



Aug. 7, 1923. 1,4644% T. M. BENNETT AIR MOISTENER ATTACHMENT FOR FANS Filed Aug. 24, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 with j "12M. Bennefi.

Aug; 7, 11923.

T. M. BENNETT AIR MOISTENER ATTACHMENT FOR FANS Filed Aug. 24, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. '7, 11923. mamm T. M. BENNETT AIR MOISTENER ATTACHMENT FOR FANS Filed Aug. 24, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 T.M.Emw 1 Patented Aug 7, 11923.

UNITED STATES TOM MOORE BENNETT, OF IRVINGTON, NEW YORK.

AIR-MOISTENER ATTACHMENT FOR FANS.

Application filed August 24, 1920. Serial No. 405,717.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, TQM M. BENNETT, a citizen of the United ,States, residing at Irvington, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Moistener Attachments for Fans, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to air moisteners and coolers and the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved attachment for fans or blowers and more particularly for the ordinary domestic or office electric fans for efiectively cooling and moistening the'atmosphere while the fan is in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved attachment for electric fans or the like embodying a supply tank, water carrying wicks communicating with the tank and arranged in front of the fan, a fabric screen arranged in front of the wicks, and a fabric absorbent sheet arranged in rear of the wicks.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means for holding the fabric guard and absorbent sheets in spaced relation and for feeding the moistening liquid between the sheets and for supplying the liquid to the absorbing sheet.

A further object of the invention is to 1 provide an improved means for catching the excess liquid from the wicks and for returning the same to the supply tank so as to efiectively prevent any drip from the wicks.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved air cooler and moistener of the above character which is durable and efficient in use, one that is simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be manufactured or incorporated with a fan at a minimum cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which drawings:

Figure l-is a side elevation of the'improved air moistening and cooling device connected to an electrlc fan.

Fi re 2 is a front elevation of the same showing a portion of the fabric guard sheet broken away. t

Figure 3 is a vertical diametric section through the improved attachment showing the same connected to the fan blade guard.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section through the lower portion of the improved attachment.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A indicates the improved air moistening and cooling attachment and B the fan or blower with which the same is associated.

The fan B may be of any preferred type or make and driven in any preferred manner, but as shown the fan is of the usual electric type used for domestic and office work. The fan B as shown includes the motor casing C, the supporting base D, the armature shaft E, the fan blade F and the fan guard As stated the fan B may be of any preferred type or make and can either be of the stationary or oscillating style.

The guard frame G for the fan blade F is also of the usual or any preferredconfiguration and as shown includes the spaced rings 5 and 6, which are connected together by the relatively short transverse braces 7. The guard frame G is connected to the motor casing C by means of braces 8.

The improved air moistening and cooling attachment A includes the arcuate supply tank 10, the upper end of which is provided with a filling spout 11, by means of which liquid can be readily introduced therein. The supply tank 10 is preferably of arcuate configuration so as to conform to the circumferential configuration of the guard frame G, and it is preferred that when a fan is provided with the guard frame G the tank be fitted by suitable spring clips or the. like directly to the upper surface thereof. Thisis clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

An arcuately curved pipe 12 is arranged in front of and in parallel relation to the lower edge of the tank 10 and in front of the ring 5 which forms a portion of the guard frame G. This arcuate pipe 12 has communication with the supply tank 10 at various points throughout its length by means of relatively short pipe sections 13. The arcuate pipe 12 forms means for supplying the liquid from the tank 10 to the liquid distributing devices 14, which will be hereinafter more fully described. The

.form a guard and prevent the splashing or the carr ing of the liquid from the moistening devlces 14. The screen or sheet 16 is preferably formed of relatively thick loose threads and is adapted to receive the Water or other liquid from the moistening devices 14 so that the air from the fan blades will act directly upon the same.

The liquid feeding devicesor moisteners 14 are so arranged as to hold the fabric sheets 15 and 16 in spaced relation so that a more ready evaporation of the liquid will take place. These liquid feeding devices each include a wick 19 formed of cotton or the like which is inserted in or positioned at the terminal of the nipples 20 which are arranged at predetermined positions on the arcuate pipe 12. The openings in the nipples 20 are gradually increased in diameter toward the ends of the arcuate pipe and the Wicks 19 are connected with the nip-ples by means of flexible rubber couplings 21. The lower ends of these couplings are split so as to provide flexible fingers 22 for engaging the opposite outer faces of the fabric sheets or screens 15 and 16. A pair of spirally wound wires 23 are coiled around each one of the wicks 19 and these wires are also covered with suitable cotton strands or the like so as to convey the liquid to the sheet 16 where the same may evaporate. By referring to Figure 3 of the drawing, it can be seen that the moistening devices 14 extend from the upper end of the fabric sheets to the lower end thereof. An arcuate trough 24, which is substantially U-shaped in cross section is secured to the lower edge of the ring of the frame G and this arcuate trough is adapted to receive the lower ends of the fabric screens or sheets 15 and 16 so as to catch any drip that might take place therefrom.

A receiving tank or well 30 is arranged below the guard frame G and this tank or well is also of arcuate configuration so as to conform to the configuration of the frame and any preferred type of clips 31 are provided for connecting the tank with the cross or transverse braces 7 which are utilized for connecting the rings 5 and 6 together.

The receiving tank or Well 30 is connected trough 24 and it will be seen that as tmr water drips from the liquid distributing} devices 14 and from the sheets 15 and 16 that the same-will be conveyed to the tank or Well.

A means 35 has been provided for returning the water or other liquid from the recelving tank or well 30 back to the supplying tank 10 and as shown this means consists of a relatively small centrifugal pump 36 the inlet port of which has communication as at 37 with the tank or well 30 adjacent to the lower end thereof. The outlet portion of the centrifugal pump 36 has com-5 pulley wheel 42 which is keyed or otherwise secured to a counter shaft 43 which is rotatably mounted in a suitable bearing 44. The bearing 44 is secured in any preferred manner such as by strap 45 to a fiortion of the casing G of the electric fan The outer end of the shaft 43 has keyed or otherwise secured thereto a friction wheel 46 which engages with the armature shaft E of the fan motor. By this means it will be seen that the counter shaft will be driven; from the armature shaft when the same is in motion. A relatively fine drive belt 47 is trained around the aligned pulley wheels 41 and 42 and thus it will be seen that the rotor shaft 40 of the centrifugal pump 36 will be driven from the countershaft. 4

In the .operation of the improved device the supply tank 10 is filled with any preferred type of liquid, such as water, which may if so desired be treated with a deodorant,

, a perfume or the like. The water will then flow through the relatively short couplings 13 to the arcuate pipe 12 from whence the same will flow through thenipples 20 to the liquid distributing devices 14. The liquid flows down the wicks 19 and the cotton covif any, will pass intothe arcuate trough 24 and then into the pipe 32 into the tank or well 30 where the same will be returned by means of the centrifugal pump 36-to the supply tank 10. i

From the foregoing description it can be nee ig'eoi seen that an improved attachment for electric fans has been provided which will effectively c001 and moisten the air in a room.

Changes in details may be made-without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention; but,

I claim:

1. The combination with an air fan a drive shaft and guard frame therefor, of an attachment for the fan for treating the atmosphere comprising a tank arranged above and carried by the frame, an arcuate pipe arranged in front of the frame and communicating with the said tank, a depending circular sheet carried by and communicating with the pipe, means connecting the sheet at certain points with the frame, and an arcuate trough carried by the lower end of the frame and receiving said sheet.

2. In a device for treating the atmosphere, the combination with an air fan and a guard frame therefor, of a storage liquid tank arranged above the propeller, an arcuate pipe arranged in front of said frame and com-' municating with the storage tank, a pair of fabric sheets carried by the pipe, means interposed between the sheets for conveying water thereto from said tank, and means for receiving the excess water from said sheets. 3. In a device for treating the atmosphere, a liquid storage tank, a pipe, means connecting the pipe with the storage tank, the pipe having a plurality of outlet nipples therein, a pair of fabric sheets, a wick .carried by each one of the nipples and interposed between the fabric sheets, and spiral guide members coiled around said wicks and engaging said fabric sheets.

a. lhe combination with an electric air fan and drive shaft,-a guard frame therefor, of an attachment therefor including an armate storage liquid tankcarr-ied by' the frame and arranged above the propeller, an arcuate guard frame therefor, of an attachment therefor including a storage tank, an arcuate feed pi v a plura ity of outlet nipples formed on said feed pipe, a circular relatively coarse fabric sheet arranged adjacent to the frame, a rela tively fine closely woven fabric sheet'arranged in front of the first mentioned fabric sheet, a plurality of depending wicks communicating with said nipples, spirally wound cotton covered wires arranged around said wicks and disposed between the fabric sheets, and rubber tubes connecting the wicks with the nipples and engaging the opposite sides of said fabric sheets.

6. In a device for treating the atmosphere, a relatively fine closely woven fabric sheet, a relatively coarse woven fabric sheet, means connecting the sheets together at their marginal edges, a liquid storage tank, liquid feeding wicks disposed between the sheets communicating with the liquid storage, tank for separating the sheets and for feeding liquid thereto.

TOM MOORE BENNETT.

e communicating with a storage tank, 

